Resilient grip for implement handles



1927. June v c. w. HALSEY RESILIENT GRIP FOR IMPLEMENT HANDLES Filed Feb l0 WWW .I

1bit" cooco Patented June 14, 1927.

UNITED STATES CHARLES W. HALSEY, 0F EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

RESILIENT GRIP FOR IMPLEMENT HANDLES.

Application filed February This invention relates to resilient grips for implement handles.

The object is to provide a detachable grip to be formed preferably of rubber in a manner to be readily attached to the handles of implements such as ice picks so as to cushion the effects of the blows in chopping ice. and obviate the danger of injury to the hands of the operator.

Another object is to provide a simple article of this character to be made all in one integral body and having means for gripping the handles of different diameters with sutlicient frictional force as toprevent their accidental removal therefrom, and also in corporating means whereby in the event that the grip may not be readily removed by hand, the pressure of air or water may be brought into action to force the internal expansion of the rubber grip and thus facilitate' its removal from said handle, when the latter may be of a larger size, it being understood that the device is primarily designed for use by ice dealers or delivery men for use in connection with the simpler forms of ize picks now distributed free of charge by such dealers for advertising purposes.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not to be confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures 2- Figure 1 is 'a side elevation of the improved grip attached to an ordinary ice pick which is in general use.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the pick with the grip shown in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section of the grip.

Figure 1 is a transverse section taken on the line H of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing there is shown an ice pick having a pointed shank 1 and the wooden handle 2 attached thereto in the 10, 1926. Serial No. 87,469.

ordinary manner. Picks constructed in this manner are very cheaply manufactured, and have become generally adopted by ice dealers for free distribution among their patrons as: an advertising medium. Being of light weight material considerable force must be employed in chopping ice by means of the same with the result that, in many cases, the hands of the operator are injured, and for the same reason the pick becomes impaired or broken. By the use of the present improved grip. the weight of the ice pick is materially increased, thus rendering the operation of chopping ice more easily accomplished and serving as-a protection to the hand when delivering the blow, and the device is constructed in a manner to hold to the handle of the ice pick, though said handle may be of slightly larger or smaller diameter, with the maximum amount of cushioning effect to the palm of the hand when in operation, and to be readily removed from said handle, in the event the ice pick has become broken, and applied to another pick.

T he grip comprises a hollow, tubular body member or .casing 1 formed of soft rubber and of sutlicient thickness and weight to effect the operation as aforesaid, the said casing including all the several parts of the device in one integral body.

The exterior of the casing is generally tapered from top to bottom as shown, and whatconstitutcs the upper end is closed by an integral wall 3 and the upper, larger end is rounded eXteriorly, as shown at 4, to fit the palm of the hand and avoid injury.

The lower, smaller end of the casing has its lower corners rounded, as at and the bore or socket 6 formed therein is of an internal diameter to receive the largest size pick handle 2 and to permit of a continuous,

annular space Taround the same, as shown in Figure2 of the drawing.

At the lower end the socket is provided with an internal inwardly directed, circum-e ferential flange 8, which. when the grip is applied in position, is adapted to tightly hug the handle and retain the grip thereon by frictional engagement. The internal diameter of the flange 8 is normally slightly smaller than the diameter of the minimum size handle as shown in Figure 3 and by forcing the device in position, the relatively thin wall just above the flange is flexed suf-.. ficiently to cause the flange to engage any of the handles and form a tight joint.

The walls of the here or socket 6 extend straight ,to within a short distance of the top wall 3 to which they are joined b a conical wall 9 having a plurality of ciannels or passageways 10 formed therein, there being three of such channels shown in the drawing, though more or less may be employed. The channels 10 have their inner walls parallel to and flush with the straight cylindrical walls of the socket, and ,the upper end walls thereof are flush with the inner sur face of the end wall 3, as clearly shown in Figure The conical wall 9 not only serves as a stop for the butt end of the handle 2, but holds same rigidly to a central position at this end.

The top wall 3 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture 11 extending through the same and adapted to act as a vent for the air in the socket when the grip is forced down onto the end of the handle 2, which becomes necessary because of the tight fitof the interior flange 8 around the handle.

lVhen the device is placed in position, the end of the handle engages with the conical wall 9, as shown in Figure 2 and is stopped, thus providing an inner space or chamber at. the end of the handle to serve as an additional cushioning means for guarding the palm of the operators hand from injury, as when the blow incident to the chopping of ice is delivered to the end of the grip, that portion of the rubber around the coni cal walls 9 is flexed outwardly, thus adding to the inherent resiliency of the top wall and the air contained in the inner chamber aids in providing the maximum amount of cushioning effect to protect the hand.

llhen it is desired to use the grip in connection with another pick, it is only necessary, in the majority of cases to remove the same by a simple twisting motion of the grip about the handle 2, which generally serves to break the frictional engagement with the interior flange 8, but, since the handles of such ice picks as have been mentioned, are usually varnished or painted with advertising matter, etc., it sometimes happens that the close adherence of the grip to ,t ie handle is suiiicient to prevent such removal by hand. In this event, a small force pump may be applied to the aperture 11 and air forced into the inner chamber and the annular space around the handle and caused to free the flange from said handle, or the butt end of the grip maybe held tightly against the outlet of a spigot or faucet and water, under pressure, allowed to follow the above men tioned course to free the flange from the handle.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple, cheaply manufactured, and durable grip has been provided for use in connection with ice pick handles or handles of other similar implements, which may be easily applied to handles of varying diameters, to cause the maximum amount of cushioning effect to the hand of the operator by means of the air cushion in addition to the resiliency of the rubber, and by the employment of air or water, the grip may be freed from the handle when required.

VVhat is claimed is:

1. A grip for implement handles, comprising a flexible tubular casing closed at one end, said end closure having a vent opening, an internal inwardly directed circumferential flange at the open end of the casing for frictionally engaging the handle, the wall of the casing just above the flange being reduced in thickness to cause said flange to engage handles of different sizes.

2. A grip for implement handles comprising a flexible tubular casing closed at one end, said end closure having a vent opening, an internal inwardly directed flange at the open end of the casing for frictionally engaging the handle, means at the closed end for limiting the extent of the insertion of thehandle, an annular space being provided interiorly between the flange and the limiting means.

3. A resilient grip for handles co1npris-' ing a hollow resilient casing-open at one end, the internal diameter of the cavity in the casing being reduced at the open end thereof to form a flange to frictionally engage the handle, an internal inclined wall joining the closed end of the casing with the interior side walls thereof to abut the end edge of the handle to center the same and to provide an inner chamber, said inclined wall having a plurality of channels communicating with the inner chamber and the annular space around the handle, and the closed end wall having a central vent to admit air or water around the inner portion of the handle.

l. A rubber grip for handles comprising a hollow, exteriorly-tapered casing having a closure wall at one end, said wall having a vent opening formed through the center thereof, the inner or closed end of the cavity in the casing being conical and adaptedto abut the end. of the handle at the peripheral edge thereof to center the same and to provide an inner chamber, the conical wall having a series of longitudinal channels cros ing the edge of the handle to permit the passage of air or water from the vent opening to the annular space around the handle, and an inwardly-extending, annular flange formed interiorly on the inner wall of the casing and at the open end thereof to frictionally engage with the handle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

CHARLES W. HALSEY.

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